[125.03] An Erupting Classical Nova in an M87 Globular Cluster

Only one certain classical nova eruption has ever been
detected inside a globular cluster - nova 1860 A.D. (T Sco)
in M80. During a month-long HST survey of M87 we have
detected an erupting star coincident (to within 0.08 pixels)
with a globular cluster of that giant elliptical galaxy. We
are able to discount variables in the foreground or
background of M87. The light curve and color of the erupting
star match those expected for a nova at the distance of M87.
The chance superposition of an M87 field nova on the
globular cluster is very unlikely. Our detection hints at a
globular cluster nova rate of up to 0.004
novae/cluster/year, much higher than previous observations
have suggested.